Are You Listening?

Submitted by: Cody Anderson Salt Lake Community College Elements of Eff. Comm 1010-024 April 15, 2014

Overview
Starting a new project is always a mental rush that is filled with information overload and an attempt to gather everything you need, sorting out the useless [the random chit-chat between the important information], and making sure you ask all the questions to minimize the inconvenience of going back to get more questions answered. Well know that we thought about how I would like to get started I just realized the conversation is over and I am more lost than when the conversation started. Not effectively listening within the work place just caused missed questions, eliminated any chance of critical thinking, and emphasized possible impatience a sign of task oriented listening that easily leads to corrective action in the work place. Learning how to control the way you listen and slow an impatience mind allowing time to think of necessary question is a sure fire way to help you keep your team happy with you.

Description of Problem
As the new project was just presented and we have already lost track of whats going on we have already started to stress about how to backtrack and remedy the problem at hand. I typically start with the stage that consists in getting upset with myself for not remembering to follow the proper steps to ensure this would not happen. Though it is a problem this usually isnt the hardest one to fix; you will need to be cautious about the amount of times you have to correct this issue as your group or team may try to sell you to the gypsies very quickly. Another problem with not effectively listening could happen when you are with a client talking details of what they require from you. This is the part where you should asking every question you can think of and when you are lacking proper techniques for listening you will hear them but you will miss a key piece of information, miss understand the directions, and even forget if an issue was discussed that will end in eventual outcome of an upset client. When you have an upset client your boss has your name stuck in his head, the teams heads, and most of those thoughts are neither positive nor promising signs for your future within the company. The impact you have being in front of a client is huge; you are the face of your company and most perceive you as holding the companies believes and standards. With that already in the clients head if you fail to listen you have failed to relay everything the company has worked hard to build and lowered the value of the company in the clients mind. Impacting the entire company just by not using simple techniques, however being simple doesnt mean you shouldnt understand and practice them as much as possible.

Page 2 of 5

Resources and Constraints

Getting on the road to increased listening skills doesnt have to be hard but it does require a starting point like everything else in life. Thinking about where to find valuable information and gathering any resources necessary to assist in accomplishing such a task may seem time consuming, but by compiling information from Communicating at Work and reviewing different internet sources [that will not be cited in this proposal due to lack of pertinent information] I can organize a plan of action using skills that will get covered in depth later such as: Note taking, Paraphrasing, Critical listening, and learning how to curb the impatient Task-Oriented listening when things arent getting to the point as I would like them to. Taking the resources and creating a plan and goal gives an outline of the concepts and how to employ them effectively within areas that require listening improvements. Accomplishing a goal that includes the skills listed will improve communication with my team. Being Senior CAD Manager my team relies on my communication to ensure project completion before deadlines by improving the initial flow of information that is received by others. Having the ability to constantly communicate with a client or the sales team I always work on reaching a superior level of communication creating minimal constraints on the time I can to improving these skills. Being able to improve my skills improves my teams skills giving all within the team greater opportunity within the company.

Recommendations
Just like a project that is coming into my hands, I have a large amount of information that needs to be processed and organized to see how the pieces will fit and create any tangible solution together. With this puzzle laid out, identifying key pieces [such as the edge] will come first so we can see the boundaries of what needs to be covered. With the problem presented in the overview using the skill of note taking it sounds like it will improve most everything, though its visible that without Critical Listening it wont help enough . . . Now inserting how TaskOriented Listening affects the space between note taking and critical listening has completed 3 of the 4 edges of the puzzle. Without a way to close it all together its possible one skill will fail potentially causing my plan to collapse. Given issues of past events connecting Paraphrasing as the last edge its created a strong enclosure for these skills to work together enforcing one another. Focusing on any edge we start to fill in critical pieces of how the edges will eventually create a solid image of the steps required to be successful. Starting with Critical Listening, (Adler & Elmhorst, p. 66) it informs that it employs a desire to analysis and to seek potential problems with the information being received. Making this skill strong within my communication by mentally focusing on the details of the information being dealt and listen for inconsistencies will allow a clear path to the next skill. Paraphrasing (Adler & Elmhorst, p. 69) is the skill of clarifying and understanding potential expectations or any inconsistencies in the information
Page 3 of 5

spoken. This skill instantly conjoins with Critical Listening in that when an inconsistency or need to ensure accuracy arises, being able to efficiently state what you heard and what you think may be wrong or right with the information. Getting the details in depth and now having the most information, correct and usable I will want to do something to safeguard a communication success I need another step. Note Taking (Adler & Elmhorst, p. 71) takes the detailed communication about the project and any other information brought up and puts it in a visual representation. This has an added side effect that can make your client feel confident in your commitment and gives you confidence that the project can start and hopefully finish with no communication hiccup resulting in negative backlash and other harmful reprimands for the company. The plan and structure has now involuntary put all its weight on the bottom edge of the puzzle, suppressing the Task-Oriented Listening (Adler & Elmhorst, p. 66) which is ideal for the plan. Keeping impatience to a minimum, redirecting the want to get to the point towards finding out if the point is correct or not, and help keeps all people involved on topic . . . As with any plan you must follow it to make it work. The realistic aspect of this plan is pretty sound, since the concepts flow together and an order that works within a normal or business conversation. By adding to this plan a recommendation to keep a pencil and paper at the ready for appropriate discussions is merely a precaution just for fun.

Summary
Let me make sure I clearly understood . . . Easing most the frustration of the useless and of listening but not truly listening by replacing it with critical listening while paraphrasing to write notes for later is the challenge of this concept and plan. Though it may take more time, it will be necessary to guarantee the projects continue to be completed in a fashion that shows ability, desire, and model team work within my department. Did you make sure to take notes?

Page 4 of 5

Works Cited
Adler, Ron B and Jeanne Elmhorst. Communication At Work (11e). Boston: McGraw Hill, 2010.

Page 5 of 5